The snake and the lion (Severus x OC)

17- The prophecy

Weeks passed, and Severus and Rose continued seeing each other secretly, sometimes in the orphanage park and other times some other public place, but always surrounded by people, so as not to attract attention.

They never met at their London homes for safety reasons, but when they wanted to be together, they went to Benson Hill, where they could be safe, without having to look around to see if someone was following them.

Then, one day, Rose's life changed completely.

The woman noticed that something was wrong as soon as she entered the Aurors office, when everyone stared at her in such a strange way that, if it wasn't for the fact that she had looked at herself in the elevator mirror, Rose would have thought she was naked.

She moved between the desks, noticing the angry looks of her colleagues, who had suddenly fallen silent, and she scratched her hands, nervous to see that everyone was turning to watch her pass, but with offended and angry expressions that did not calm her down at all.

Not knowing what to think, Rose looked at James, who turned away from her, and at Lily, who was unable to look her in the eye. It was then that she realized that something very serious had happened. Something related to her.

She was going to sit at her desk, increasingly bewildered by the attitude of her colleagues, when Battleman called her to his office.

Noticing everyone's gaze on her neck, Rose obeyed and went to her boss's office, although she had to step aside to let Moody out, who walked past her as if she did not exist.

Finally, she entered the office and closed the door.

"Sit down, Benson," Battleman ordered seriously.

She obeyed, but her boss stood up and began pacing the room. He approached one of the windows and peeked through the blind, making his employees stop murmuring among themselves and looking that way and immediately return to work.

"Sir, if it is about the report that I did not finish—"

"I haven't called you for any report," Batteman cut her off, turning to her. "This is something more serious," The man returned to his table and sat down, looking at Rose seriously. "Benson, since joining the Auror corps, you have proven capable of facing all kinds of challenges with the courage, ability and discretion that I ask of all my employees, and Merlin knows that I have never had a reason to complain against you," Rose bowed her head, thanking him for the compliment, but Battleman continued very seriously. "However, certain information has forced me to doubt your true interests within this department."

"I don't understand, sir," said Rose. She had suddenly gone pale and was having trouble swallowing. A suspicion made her body go cold, as if a bucket of water had been dumped on her.

"During this last month, you have been seen in the company of a death eater," and to prove it, Battleman put on the table several photographs in which Severus and herself were seen together in a park, walking down the street, sitting inside a red car...

Rose looked at the photos without daring to touch them, but with her soul in her feet; she knew that these images could be interpreted as a clear act of betrayal, which was condemned with the worst punishment of all: the dementor's kiss.

"When Moody informed me of what he had seen, I refused to believe him, thinking that perhaps you were being threatened by this death eater," Battleman continued, when Rose did not speak. "Later, I thought you might be trying to infiltrate Voldemort's side through him. However, it has been over a month since Moody saw you, and I have not received any reports from you regarding the death eaters that would suggest that you are spying on them, and my... contacts claim that you are not under the influence of any type of coercion, whether magical or ordinary," Rose continued in silence, her head down, knowing that at any moment they would jump on her and take her to Azkaban, since nothing she said could act in her favor. "Rosalind, I think you understand my position," Battleman called her by name for the first time. She nodded, feeling a huge sting in her throat and eyes, but she stood firm so as not to start crying there, in front of him. "Then, you will also understand that it is my duty to ask you to leave the department..." Rose looked at him in disbelief, "immediately."